Electrolytic cell



Sept-4. 1923. J. M. WlLLlAMS ELECTROLYTI 0 CELL Filed Juna 24, 1920 2 Sheets-Shem l.

m 1, 4 A /i2 I."

A TUR/VEYS ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed June 24, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented S ept. W23.

JOIH or. WILLIAMS, 6F HIEEB'EZ'EETA, @WGHEL EEEGTEDLYTKG GEF.:L

Application filed June 2%, 19%. Serial 230. 891,418.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn lid. Wire-muss, a citizen of the United States, residing'ct Henq ette, county of Okmulgee, Stste of 5 Oklahoma, have invented a certain new and .useful Electrolytic Cell, of which the following is a spwificetion.

This invention is an electrolytic cell, and

the object of the invention is to construct a,

cell in a simple and economical manner, yet one which will operate with exceptionel efficiency particularly in the electrolyzing of common salt for the production of chlorine and caustic soda, for use in connection with the milling business, water works, sewage purification, etc.

Apparatus has been heretofore suggested for the electrolyzing of salt for the production of chlorine with caustic soda as u by-product, but such apparatus has not been eiilcient for numerous reasons. As these cells are usually consiructed, u diaphragm is positioned between the anode end the cathode and the caustic soda is supposed to pass throu h the diaphragm and be removed from tl me cathode side thereof. Practicsl experience has proven, however, that caustic soda is very apt to accumulate on the anode side of the diaphragm and hypochlorites which greutl decrease the efficiency of the cell in a relatively short time, and necessitate e secession of tl'lQQlGCtI'O- lyzing operation and a. cleaning of the cell.

Careful observation of electrolytic cells has convinced me that means should he provided for removing the caustic soda from the anode side of the diaphragm, so as to preclude the building up or nccumulction of such material in this location. If the anode side of the diaphragm can be kept free from accumulations of caustic soda, the efficiency of the cell is increased a Inexirnuin and the cell continues to function with the hi hest degree of efficiency through prolonge periods of time without requiring secession of the electrolyzing of the salt solution.

From a more specific standpoint, the object of this invention is mainly, to providehmeens for precluding choking of the cell dhrough the accumulation 01 cu istic sods, although the invention further con templates 9. simplification of cell construc tion and a combination of elements thereof which will fociliete the menufecturo oi the 5 cell, inexpensive maintenance and eficient operstion.

Features of the invention, other then those edverted to, will be apparent from the. hereinsfiees detailed description end @919 claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, end not us defining the limits of the invention Figure 1 is e perspective View of on electrolytic cell embodying the present inven tion.

Figure 2 is a vertical, longitudinel section of said cell.

Figure 3 is c section on the line e e or Pi 2; and,

'fiigure 4 is u perspective-view of one of the anode sections.

In the accompanying drawing, the cell is shown as of abox-like strudure, bowing side walls 1 of concrete, pottery, or other material resistent to the action 0? chlo- W rine and cuunic soda, and or? pro -r dieelec= trio properties. Intermediate t e to end 7 bottom or the side wells there moi ed or otherwise secured thereto, on a 'le iron frame 2, which extends shout e four sides of the cell as clearly shown and is pro'-' vided at spuced'intervels with holes through which bolts 3 may be passed for the purpose of bolting the bottom of the cell to the side walls thereof. The lwttom oi the cell is in the form of on iron frame 3' made of such size that the mer insl edges thereof will protrude beyond ti e side walls of the cell and such marginal edges are epertured to correspond with the apertures in the angle 95 iron frame 2, so thet the bolts 3 rosy be passed through the upertures of both the frame 3 and the frame 2 and tightened to firmly clam the frame 3' to the bottom of the cell, on at the some time rigidly clump in place c. sheet 0% wire mesh 4: and e sheet of asbestos paper 5, which are superimposed on the Tome 3' and underlie the lower edges of the side walls. The asbestos plate 5 not only serves as the diaphragm of "the cell, but also as e gasket 1 ween the killiiillE El and the-side wells el -themed.

ls: sccordence with the present invention,

' supply, current.

:well is made lower tile wir. mesh l constitutcs'ihe cul node the cell is included in circuit through we Irc .oe 3' cod 9.

- l. Uri) 6 conducting with a suitable source current poo J fed lo the cell through :irip 7 in tileunode. in the preferred emlicdixnnt of this invention, the anode is made sectional in tho form of e plurulitr of graphite slabs 8, one of which is shown in detail in Figure 4-. Ecol: slab 8 provided v; number of depending conductive lug-else or rods in three of the four side walls 1 ihe cei and are mo oeted oo provide shoulders 10 on which these slaios nay root. The fourin l c oilier three or on a level with the slioulc. of? acid three walls. With this conslruction the slabs may be laid side by side, after the manner shown in, Figure 1 so es 20 form a clocurc for the top of cell, which will flush. with the top of of live side WiLllS thereof. The slabs, however are made loi'igcr than the body of the cell, us to outcry} siigliily over the low walled cud thereof-and the conductor or cleclric curren feeding the strip '2, passes across all of suidslalis after the manner 01* c cleal; and is eecurod to each slab as shown in Figure i, so that cuz'rcni, may i e fed simultaneously loo all of the slabs and their associated rods 9.

i /"lien the anode is in place upon the side Walls oi the cell, the rods extend downwardly into the interior thereof. but terminew at a point above the usbesios diaphragm 5, so than current flowing from the anode 10 the cathode is required to pass through the electrolyte 11, with which the cell is adepied to be charged. For The production of chlorine and caustic soda this electrolyte is preferably brine, which may be fed into tho cell through c suiieble pipe 12 passing ilu'ougli' one of i'llQ side Walls lhercof.

When i'ne cur'fcnt to the cell is switched on, the electrolyte iseleclrolyzgd \Vlill the resul''tl at iilorine is set free. and being of less specific gravity than lhe electrolyte, rises to the top of lhe cell above the electrolyte level and uttnc same time caustic soda is formed and settles to the bottom or" the cell. The chlorinc gas finds exit through an out-let pipe 13, which may be exhausted either by exerting pressure within the cell or by employing suction. The accompanying drawings show the latter method of drawing of? the chlorine. through the employrneni of adraw ofi' pipe 14-. Associated with the draw oil pipe 14 is a pipe 15, which leads from a suitable source of air under pressure at the junction of the pipes 14 and 15 is includcd an ejector nozzle 16, the outlet end of which is adjacent tile pipe 13. 'lhc air under pressure passing through the pipe 15 and through the ejector mcvnir 15. sets up a suction in the 1 inc 13, which draws the chlorine cm; of fine coil to be cmricd along"; "with the air through the draw on" pipe ii. To all v: of lhe (ire-W1. ,9: on or the chlorine in nanucr specified, onc of i he slabs 8 is prr .ded ii-n an air vent l7, and (tonsil-int circulation air rcsulte between the is-nit l7 and the pipe 13 wilhin the coil Eliot the chlorine gas is drawn oil" soon i evolved.

The caustic soda w licli drops lo inc bottom of the cell. is f-lo 'and in pruciice to strutin. region the diaphragm 5, and while considercble urnounis of such caustic code filters through the diaphragm and is freed from the cell through the -wire meshed cathode d. the choking of the cell through accumulation of caustic soda on the diaphragm is obviated by the provision of o caustic soda draw cl? lube 1.8 which passes ihrough one of i ne side walls of the cell. shown in Figure 2 with its inner opening resting upon the diaphragm 5. During -lhe operation the cell brine is fed, through. the pipe 12, preferably in a constant flow and rises to level in lire cell corresponding LG llie turn. 18' in flue lube 18, which "forms the overflow. As iZl'iS iced of brine continues, the level is mainiained constant by the outflow of liquid through tube 3.8 and caustic soda which does nevi filter throu h diaphragm, is carried off throughiu'oe iii. The provision of this tube is; a vi'ial feature of lhe cell,

since it keeps 'llie strata of cuscic code oelow the ends of the pins or rods 9 and preserves the full chlorine er'liciencv of the cell. ln practice, flow of brine inzo the cell may be so regulated that the cell is kept substanlially entirely free from residual caustic soda. Hydrosleiic pressure and the dificrence in specific gravity preclude the caustic soda and chlorine from reuniting above the diaphragm, bu'l caustic soda.

mam were ullowedio build up lo ville plane of the lower end oi the rods 9, hypcs would he formed, which would greatly reduce the clliciency of the cell. 7

A. sink or drain 19 is preferably pocicloned below the cell lo caustic soda which works through ube diaphragm thereof, and this caustic codebe led off from such drain through a. pipe location.

21 practice, I have found climb the cell may be conveniently supported by provid' ing the angle iron frame 2 with leicral extensions 21 which form bearers adapied to rest upon any suitable firm support.

The cell of lice present invention may be used separately, but for c lerge'produc'ticu, n plurality of such cells may bc used to provide the desired output of chlorine The cell of die inven siou works with high eliiciency and through prolonged periods 20 0 any desired Hill since it cannot become ch'olzed ascells oi? the type heretofore'embloyed and in the case of 1n ury to any of the parts through or long continued use, the structure is such that it may be readily dismantled and re 7 paired or-new parts as easily substituted.

The manner ofremoving the caustic soda from the anode side of the diaphragm, as

well as the manner of drawing as the chlorine gas, as hereinbeiore described, con stitute a new process, described and claimed in my copending method application, tiled June 24, 1920, Ser. No. 391,41?

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrolytic cell embodying side walls, a foraminous bottom having a superimposed diaphragm of asbestos, said foraminated bottom forming the cathode of the cell, an anode embodying a plurality of graphite slabs laid edge to edge on the side walls to form a closure for the top of the cell and each otwhich slabs carries a plurality of depending conductor rods adapted to be partially submerged in the electrolyte within the cell, a duct for feed cell is adapted to contaimend a duct for drawing off caustic soda, resulting from the electrolyzing of the brine, from the zone directly adjacent the diaphragm and on the anode side thereof.

3. An electrolytic cell embodying an anode, a cathode, a-diaphragm positioned intermediate the anode and the cathode, a portion of the anode being submerged Within brine electrolyte, which the cell is adapted to contain, and a pipe leading out of the cell and having its open inner end resting upon the diaphragm, whereby caustic soda: may be drawn off and its accumulation within the cell precluded.

4. An electrolytic cell embodying an anode adapted to be partially submerged in an electrolyte which the cell is adapted to contain, a cathode, a diaphragm inter-' mediate the anode and the cathode and elec trical connections for passing a current through the cell for the purpose or" electro' lyzing the electrolyte and evolving a gas, in combination witn means for circulating a current or air through the cell for the pur pose of carrying 03 the evolved gas.

5. An electrolytic cell embodying side walls provided with supporting shoulders surfaces of the side walls oi the cell, and means cooperating with said attaching members and with the cathode ot the cell for holding the latter securely iiaQposition.

6. An esctrolytic cell embodying an members partly embedded in the exterior anode, consisting of a plurality ct grahige slabs nceitioned above the surface 0 electrolyte contained in the cell and torming a cover oi the call, each of which slabs is provided with depending conductor rods partially submerged by said electrolyte, a cathode forming the bottom of the cell, and a diaphragm superimposed u on the cathode intermediate the cathode an anode.

7. An electrolytic cell embodying an anode, a. dot horizontal cathode oosit-ioned below the anode, means for feeding brine to the cell, and an oveow duct, the inlet of which is between the anode and the cathode, for drawing ed the spent brine and caustic soda resulting from the electrolyzing of the brine.

8. An electrol ic cell. embodying an anode, a substantially flat, horizontal cathode positioned below the anode, means for steadily feeding brine into the cell and means for steadily drawing oil thespent brine and caustic soda resulting from the electrolyzing oi the brine, from a point between the anode and the cathode.

9. An electrolytic cell embodying an anode, a substantially fiat, horizontal cathode positioned below the anode, means for steadily feeding brine into the cell, and an.

overflow pipe leading out of the cell and having its inner receiving end positioned in the zone directly adjacent the cathode, whereby the electrolyte displaced by inflowing brine, is freed from the cell at a point adjacent the cathode and carries 0d the caustic soda produced by the electrolyzing of the brine.

10. An electrolytic cell embodying an anode, a substantially flat, horizontal cathode, a draw off duct having its inlet end intermediate the anode and the cathode and its outlet end at a height corresponding to the desired surface level of the electrolyte adapted to be contained in the cell, and means for feeding electrolyte into the cell for the purpose of displacing a portion of the contents via the overflow duct,

lLAn electrolytic cell embodying an e2; Lee'mm anode a cathode, a draw oft duetheving its ing a steeciy flow 0? spent electrolyte and inlet end intermediate the anode and the certain products of the electrolyte action out, cathode and its outlet end at a height cone of the cell through the overflow duct. 1 sponding to the desired surface level of the In testimony whereof, I have signed my electrolyte adapted to be contained in the name to this specification.

cell, and means for steadily feeding electro' lyte into the cell for the purpose of effect- JOHN M. WILLIAMS. 

